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U.S. Condemns Mogadishu Bombing

About the Author: Russell Brooks serves as Spokesperson for the Bureau of African Affairs.

The United States condemns in the strongest terms the December 3rd suicide bombing in Mogadishu. At a university gathering, celebrating scholarship and hope for the future of Somalia, a suicide bomber murdered students, teachers, journalists, and others. Three ministers of the Transitional Federal Government, who worked tirelessly to restore stability in Somalia, were among those killed.

Such horrific violence flies in the face of all that is good for Somalia. Now, those who committed this attack choose death and destruction and have no interest in rebuilding the country. The United States looks to Somalis everywhere to end the violent conflict that has engulfed their homeland for nearly two decades. The United States, with the international community, is committed to restoring the peace and prosperity that Somalia once knew, and we will partner with the Somali people to help them achieve that goal.

Comments

Comments

Jack

|

Virginia, USA

December 4, 2009

Jack in Virginia writes:

I'm not sure when Somalia has known "peace and prosperity," but the the State Department is right to condemn this act.

I have one question for Mr. Brooks: Is the State Department currently conducting any outreach to the Somali-American community here in the U.S.? If not, I think it might be a prudent measure. In the same way your Middle East Bureau conducts outreach and has forged ties with the Arab-American communities (in Dearborn, MI, for example), so, too, should the Africa Bureau build ties with Somali-Americans. Recent reporting in the Washington Post and New York Times outline disenfranchised communities with young men who understand little of US efforts to assist the fledgling government in Mogadishu. These young men are succeptible to becoming involved in the same type of terrorist acts we saw committed today in Somalia.

Best,

Jack

Donald

|

Virginia, USA

December 7, 2009

Donald in Virginia writes:

CALLING WOLF!!!

I'm not in Somalia but to me it sounded like someone sent them a big message. The most recent events that surround Somalia is the piracy issues. Of course United States Condems any attacks on innocent people. This is also a time the country of Somalia needs to take action against the Piracy issues that continue to plague shipping of goods that do not belong to them. Stealing other peoples valuables is just plain wrong. Somalia's Government like Pakistan need to train law enforcement and start patrolling its own seas, arrest the people who continue causing problems for other Nations. It would behove Somalia to wake up and smell the coffee before they end up in wars with countries that have had cargo and people taken hostage. How many countries now have the Somalia pirates taken people hostage, demanded money and this went on for months. It's only a matter of time before Nations start showing a presence by sending messages to the country, this one sounded like it was pretty clear. Either take action to resolve your own problems or Nations will solve this problem for them. It is written in the Bible, "Thou shall not steal" there is a price for stealing. The only way Somalia will regain it's reputation in the world is when they can prove themselves to be fit to society and create jobs for it's people without taking something that belongs to someone else. I also condem the attack but also feel strongly that Somalia better be prepared to take action against this serious piracy issue before they find themselves in a more serious dire situation. You can't scream for help to the world if your stealing their people and money on the open seas. I heard on the news it was another Saudi tanker taken by the pirates. I'm not sure if the Somalia people are aware but the Saudis are already at war with its neighbor Yeaman. The stakes will only get higher and the loss of people will rise until Somalia uses law enforcement on the pirates. A lawless society brings chaos and instablity to the region. The world is watching Somalia and step on the wrong toes and suddenly you have more worries to deal with in your backyard.